Robust terrestrial. Pseudobulbs ovoid, to 6 cm long. Leaves 4-7, oblanceolate to elliptic, to 120 cm long, to 20 cm wide. Inflorescences erect, to 2 m tall. Flowers 8-14, to 13 cm wide; spring. Sepals and petals similar, lanceolate to oblanceolate, pointed, white outside, brownish inside. Labellum 3-lobed, tubular at base, white with reddish suffusions and a yellow keel. Name spelled in various ways e.g. P. tankervilliae.

N India to China and Sri Lanka to Australia.

P. australis F. Muell. from Qld &NSW is a robust terrestrial with flowers to 12 cm wide that have reddish-brown yellow-veined sepals and petals and a labellum that is not strongly tubular at the base.

P. bernaysii Rowland ex Rchb. f. from Moreton Bay area of Qld is a robust terrestrial with flowers to 12 cm wide that have bright yellow sepals and petals and a labellum that is not strongly tubular at the base. Syn. P. australis F. Muell. var. bernaysii (Rowland ex Rchb. f.) Nicholls.

Source: Jeanes, J. (2005). Orchidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.